The Pistons have an Ausar Thompson problem

Feb 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9): Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesAusar Thompson watched most of the second half of last night’s loss to the Spurs from the Pistons’ bench, and it showed, as the team fell apart without him, which is a problem.

Thompson was yanked from the game abruptly after missing a defensive assignment and having a curt interaction with coach JB Bickerstaff, who barely played him for the rest of the game.

I am perfectly fine with riding the hot hand, and if the Pistons were winning the game without Thompson, I wouldn’t be complaining, but that wasn’t the case. Detroit was down two when he went out of the…